Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1887-03-04
rIiE DRIF7. uOOD RACE

So suited to all WcatheiS;
But excuse me arr. YOU not our common OWL
ID urch st. NtchOirS.
----------
TJIE DRTF1L H,OOD R1CE.
just opposite Cearharbor the Scopbonet
River divides. One arm creeps over its
winding bed as if loath to leave the island
it enCircles the other PUSHES down a rocky
channel, and shortly gains the bay The
former branch, ia Clearharbur parlanre. is
the Thoroughfare, the latter, the Narrows.
One day in March both Narrows and Thor.
uughfare were full of cakes of ice, pushing
and cruwding and piling the one over the
other. The ice. which during the winter
months closed the river to navigation for
eighteen miles above, was going out earlier
than usual. Generally, as the days grew
warmer, thin sheets foated by unnoticed.
but when the swelling waters broke their
still bonds asunder the sight was grand.
The bridge across the Thoroughfare was
throngcd with spectators leaning over the
rail and watching the blocks of ice crunch
and grind against the wooden piers More
timd ones looked on from the river bank
remembering that the last time the embar-
20 had gone out so suddenly the bridge had
been carried away.
Its alwers best to he cautions, snlilo-
quized Deacon Hastings. nodding approv-
lngly from the back window of his grocery
toward the knot of observers stationed be
low Thence the deacon's ewes wandered
along the strip of beach at the foot of the
emhankmeut, where the poor of the town
were gathering the drift wood which the
waters had stranded. Evidently the object
Of his search was not there. for with a
shake Of the head he returned to the circle
OF village wiseacres cungregated around his
small rusty stove. If time had not dimmed
the keenness of the deacon, eye a glance
across the half-mile of water would have
shown him his son Rast on the point of land
which jutted out from the island at the di-
vision of the river. As the sun took peep
from under the gray clouds before slipping
behind the hills, it painted the floating ice
with ruby and emerald tints, and for "A mo-
ment the boys collected around the heaps of
drift-wood ON the shore seemed clad in gilt
tering armor, and in the place Of the wood
en- pick-poles bore gold-tipped spears.
Il abide by the decision of the crowd. OF
course Rast Hastings said, CURLY. IF
I'm beaten, that's the end of it. o."
WAL, Hasty," drawled Simon Gott,
thrusting his hands deep into his trousers
pockets Pm all fired to 90 agin yer, but
seems t me Chal has hauled in a little the
biggest pile.
But Rast gave granny big
Hold your tongue Ragbag that was
my concern. wasn't it = interrupted Rast,
not unkindly. And Ragbag, thus repulsed,
climbed back to his lookout ON slippery
rock to watch until the eddy brought some
treasure near the shore.
We can't decide exactly declared Ned
/ Croker with AN air Of impartiality.
Here's Chals wood in single pile, while
| yours, Rast, is all over the lot. If the next
/ ten minutes don't make more Of differ
ence let, call it even. Eth, fellows =
That's fair enough, assented Win Ran
som.
Agree, Chal I" Rast asked. carelessly.
Chalis Grey nodded. He stood u little
| apart from the rest, waiting with seeming
I Indifference for their decsion-a quiet
| looking lad, an inch or two below the height
of square -shouldered R,lst, although his
/ slight figure gave him the appearance of he
| ing the taller Of the two. Fastened about
/ his waist by long rope was a stick set
/ with an iron brad. which he used with con
siderable skill in harpOOming pieces of wood
as they tloated by.
While classed rs one of the boys, - Chal-
lis did not assimilate with the rest. who
/ generally put him into the third person. and
occasionally left him out of their good times
| altogether. Challis felt all this keenly. and
/ became more grave and taciturn as the de
sire for popularity among his mates increas-
! ed-lOnged for 50 ardently, it may be, be
cause it appeared out OF his reach Rast
ON the other hand, was general favorte
in Clearharbor
"Oh, Rast, Rast - cried Ragbag falling
from his perch in his excitement, there II
log as hig's tree a-colnin down-river
Oh, Rast you get it Won't you, Rast
The one NV yer that gifts tibet Spite beats, 50
said Slime. ''Wmterport wharf must "a
broke down, and we'd best ( over tother side
fore the next jam kerries away the bridge.
The current will take the log out too far for
your pick, Rast You'd better let Chal
harpoon it. Twill he pity to lose it en-
tirely, you know
Its Rast's. | saw it first, and I'm IA
going to give it TO Rast, clamored little
Ragbag jealously.
"More'n one way ter kill cat, Slime re-
marked, looking ON with half-shut eyes
Rast, who had selected a thick ice cake
floating near the shore, now sprang upon it,
and was making ready to push ont, when
Challis waded out to his side.
Don't try that, Rast Wen say the race
is yours without any more bother don't
think you're quite yourself, Hastings, or
you wouldn't attempt such Il rash piece of
business he added, in lower tone.
Nonsense - Rast retorted angrily. III
You refuse to own you're beaten till my
pile is double yours, | am equal TO it and
Im not such baby that a little water
makes me afraid.
"Foolhardiness is far from being cour-
age, replied Chal, with heightened color,
Comes nearer to it than cowardice, -
sneered Rast. IF | fail to bring the log
back, you're welcome to it," he called out
over his shoulder as he started ahead.
"Hasty's got grit, - the boys commented,
watching him work his way out,
IF he can't get it he'll make sure Chal
don't Rast isn't beaten so easily
On came the log, looking like some sea
monster as it rose and fell with the waves.
Rast had calculated his position to a nicely.
He knew Just where the current would
swing the log nearest the shore, and having
poled out until he could barely touch bot
tom he held his raft as steady as possible
and waited,
"Hurrah !" crowed Ragbag, when pres
emily the log was horne in his direction.
Strike in the middle strike in the mid
die. or twill be too much for you," cried
Challis, struggling against his Immature.
But Rast had buried his pick in the fore
most end before the words reached him.
The upper portion of the log suddenly veer-
ed and pressed the ice cake, still bearing
Rast, out into the swift stream, where il
whirled hopelessly about for moment, and
then was swept around the curve, out OF
sight of the group ON the shore,
1t was Challis who broke the silence that
followed. Simon Colt, are there any
boats at the foot of the island 2
"Ner amt goin' ter need no boats, quotl
simon the undisturbed. The eddyll kerry
him ashore ter lnjun Pint, l guess.
Guess !" cried Challis in decided tones
Guess | knOtc that the only chance o
saving Rast is at the mouth of the Narrows
Are you such fool as to put any faith il
that eddy, when the river is risen like this
Are you going TO let that one chance out
weigh all the rest Boys, every minute
may mean life or death to lIast What are
you thinking about I"
II don't believe there is a boat at The
foot that will stand such a sea
VIII Ransom ventured this information
The rest were speechless with the amaze
ment caused by Rast's sudden exit and tn
astonishment Chal's rare words created.
Boys look alive Ned, you and Harr!
take the best horses you can find and rid
straight to the foot of the island, If ther'
is boat of any sort, put out. VIII, sent
your skiif after them as quickly as possible
there may be time if there is no boat there
The roads are bad les--dont spare tn
"a IN 4